[Tropical] Hurricane Local Statement

[EMWIN Server]

WTUS84 KHGX 110056
HLSHGX

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
HURRICANE IKE LOCAL STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
756 PM CDT WED SEP 10 2008

...EVACUATIONS ON THE UPPER TEXAS COAST EXPANDING...

.AT 700 PM CDT THE CENTER OF HURRICANE IKE WAS LOCATED
NEAR LATITUDE 24.7 NORTH AND LONGITUDE 86.3 WEST OR ABOUT
605 MILES SOUTHEAST OF GALVESTON.

IKE IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHWEST NEAR 8 MPH.  A TURN
BACK TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWESTWARD IS EXPECTED TONIGHT OR EARLY
ON THURSDAY...AND A GENERAL WEST-NORTHWESTWARD MOTION OVER THE
CENTRAL AND WESTERN GULF OF MEXICO IS EXPECTED ON THURSDAY AND
FRIDAY.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE STILL HOLDING AT AROUND 100 MPH.
IKE IS A CATEGORY TWO HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON HURRICANE
SCALE.  IKE IS EXPECTED TO BECOME A MAJOR CATEGORY 3 HURRICANE
BY THURSDAY.

IKE IS A LARGE TROPICAL CYCLONE.  HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND
OUTWARD UP TO 115 MILES FROM THE CENTER AND TROPICAL
STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 205 MILES.

THE LATEST MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE REPORTED BY AN AIR FORCE
RECONNAISSANCE AIRCRAFT WAS 947 MB...27.96 INCHES.


GMZ330-335-350-355-370-375-120100-
/O.CON.KHGX.HU.A.0001.000000T0000Z-000000T0000Z/
GALVESTON BAY-MATAGORDA BAY-
WATERS FROM FREEPORT TO THE MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL 20 NM TO 60 NM-
WATERS FROM FREEPORT TO THE MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL OUT 20 NM-
WATERS FROM HIGH ISLAND TO FREEPORT 20 TO 60 NM-
WATERS FROM HIGH ISLAND TO FREEPORT OUT 20 NM-
756 PM CDT WED SEP 10 2008

...HURRICANE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT...

...NEW INFORMATION...
AT 700 PM CDT THE CENTER OF HURRICANE IKE WAS LOCATED
NEAR LATITUDE 24.7 NORTH AND LONGITUDE 86.3 WEST OR ABOUT
605 MILES SOUTHEAST OF GALVESTON.

...AREAS AFFECTED...

THIS STATEMENT RECOMMENDS ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN BY PERSONS IN THE
FOLLOWING COUNTIES OR MARINE AREAS:

	GALVESTON BAY...MATAGORDA BAY...WATERS FROM FREEPORT TO THE
	MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL 20 NM TO 60 NM...WATERS FROM FREEPORT TO
	THE MATAGORDA SHIP CHANNEL OUT 20 NM...WATERS FROM HIGH ISLAND
	TO FREEPORT 20 TO 60 NM...WATERS FROM HIGH ISLAND TO FREEPORT
	OUT 20 NM.

...WATCHES/WARNINGS...
HURRICANE WATCH IS IN EFFECT.


NO ADDITIONAL HAZARDS ARE IN EFFECT.

...PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

MARINERS SHOULD VERY QUICKLY TAKE ACTION TO PREPARE FOR THE
PASSAGE OF A MAJOR HURRICANE THROUGH THE TEXAS COASTAL WATERS.
HURRICANE WATCHES HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR THE TEXAS COASTAL WATERS
WELL IN ADVANCE OF THE USUAL 36 HOUR LEAD TIME. THIS HAS BEEN DONE TO
GIVE MARINE INTERESTS MORE TIME TO MAKE PREPARATIONS FOR A MAJOR
HURRICANE.

...STORM SURGE AND STORM TIDE...

MAXIMUM WATER LEVELS FORECAST:
SHORELINE OF MATAGORDA BAY - 15 TO 22 FEET
COASTAL AREAS FROM MATAGORDA TO SAN LUIS PASS - 10 TO 14 FEET
COASTAL AREAS OF GALVESTON AND CHAMBERS COUNTIES AND THE
SHORES OF GALVESTON BAY - 8 TO 12 FEET

...WINDS...

NORTHEAST WINDS WILL INCREASE TO TROPICAL STORM FORCE EARLY FRIDAY
MORNING WITH WAVE HEIGHTS RISING TO 10 TO 18 FEET AFTER 8 AM. AS
THE STRONGER WINDS WITH THE EYE MOVE INTO THE COASTAL WATERS...WINDS
OF 100 TO 130 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH SEAS IN EXCESS OF 20 FEET
FRIDAY AFTER NOON.

$$

TXZ200-213-214-235>238-120100-
/O.CON.KHGX.HU.A.1009.000000T0000Z-000000T0000Z/
BRAZORIA-CHAMBERS-GALVESTON-HARRIS-JACKSON-LIBERTY-MATAGORDA-
756 PM CDT WED SEP 10 2008

...HURRICANE WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT...

...NEW INFORMATION...
AT 700 PM CDT THE CENTER OF HURRICANE IKE WAS LOCATED
NEAR LATITUDE 24.7 NORTH AND LONGITUDE 86.3 WEST OR ABOUT
605 MILES SOUTHEAST OF GALVESTON.

EVACUATION INFORMATION HAS BEEN EXPANDED.

HURRICANE WATCHES HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR THE TEXAS COAST WELL IN
ADVANCE OF THE USUAL 36 HOUR LEAD TIME. THIS HAS BEEN DONE TO
GIVE PERSONS ACROSS SOUTHEAST TEXAS MORE TIME TO MAKE PREPARATIONS.
THE STORM IS EXPECTED TO STRENGTHEN TO CATEGORY 4 INTENSITY WITH
WINDS PEAKING NEAR 130 MPH CLOSE TO THE EYE OF THE STORM. THE
STORM WILL LIKELY BE A VERY LARGE STORM WITH A WIND FIELD OF
SUSTAINED TROPICAL FORCE WINDS THAT COULD BLANKET A LARGE SWATH
OF THE TEXAS COAST AHEAD OF AND AT LANDFALL. THE STORM IS EXPECTED
TO MAKE LANDFALL BETWEEN MIDNIGHT AND 6 AM FRIDAY NIGHT INTO
SATURDAY MORNING.

...AREAS AFFECTED...

THIS STATEMENT RECOMMENDS ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN BY PERSONS IN THE
FOLLOWING COUNTIES OR MARINE AREAS:

	BRAZORIA...CHAMBERS...GALVESTON...HARRIS...JACKSON...LIBERTY...
	MATAGORDA.

...WATCHES/WARNINGS...

HURRICANE WATCH IN EFFECT.

NO ADDITIONAL HAZARDS ARE IN EFFECT.

...PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

CURRENT EVACUATION INFORMATION:

CHAMBERS COUNTY:
RESIDENTS OF OAK ISLAND AND SMITH POINT FISHING COMMUNITIES ARE
BEING ASKED TO LEAVE AS ROADWAYS WILL BE SUBMERGED. RESIDENTS OF
CEDAR POINT AND WALKER SUBDIVISIONS IN BEACH CITY AND THOSE LIVING
SOUTH OF FM 1985 ARE ALSO BEING ASKED TO LEAVE.

BRAZORIA COUNTY:
A MANDATORY EVACUATION HAS BEEN ORDERED FOR ZIP ZONE 77541. A SPECIAL
NEEDS EVACUATION ORDER IS IN PLACE FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY. A
VOLUNTARY EVACUATION IS IN PLACE FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY. RESIDENTS
IN THE COASTAL AREAS AND THOSE REQUIRING TRANSPORTATION FROM
BRAZORIA COUNTY TO BELL COUNTY MUST RUSH THEIR PREPARATIONS TO
COMPLETION BY 10 AM THURSDAY.

GALVESTON COUNTY:

A MANDATORY EVACUATION WILL BEGIN AT 7 AM THURSDAY FOR WEST GALVESTON
ISLAND...JAMAICA BEACH...BOLIVAR PENINSULA...OMEGA BAY...SAN LEON...
BACLIFF...AND FREDDIESVILLE. VOLUNTARY EVACUATION SHOULD BE
CONSIDERED FOR LOW-LYING AREAS IN DICKINSON...KEMAH...CLEAR LAKE
SHORES...AND LA MARQUE. CITIZENS SHOULD ALSO CONSIDER EVACUATING
IF THEY LIVE IN AREAS SUBJECT TO FLOODING OR IN MOBILE HOMES. IF
YOU DECIDE TO EVACUATE...PLEASE REMEMBER TO PACK YOUR DISASTER
KIT AND IMPORTANT PAPERS.

THE GALVESTON-BOLIVAR FERRY WILL LIKELY CEASE OPERATIONS AT 11 PM
THURSDAY NIGHT.

SCHOOL CLOSINGS...THE FOLLOWING SCHOOL DISTRICTS WILL BE CLOSED
ON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY...HIGH ISLAND...HITCHCOCK...SANTA FE...AND
FRIENDSWOOD. THE FOLLOWING WILL BE CLOSED STARTING MIDDAY THURSDAY
THROUGH FRIDAY...GALVESTON...AND DICKINSON. THE FOLLOWING WILL BE
CLOSED ON FRIDAY...LA MARQUE...TEXAS CITY...AND CLEAR CREEK.

THE BOLIVAR S.U.D. HAS INDICATED THEY WILL CEASE WATER SERVICE TO THE
PENINSULA AT 5 PM ON THURSDAY.



JACKSON COUNTY:

A VOLUNTARY EVACUATION IS UNDERWAY FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTY.

SCHOOLS WILL BE CLOSED THURSDAY AND FRIDAY.

MATAGORDA COUNTY:
A MANDATORY EVACUATION HAS BEEN ORDERED FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVE AND
WORK SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 35. THIS MANDATORY EVACUATION INCLUDES THE
COMMUNITIES OF PALACIOS...ASHBY-BUCKEYE...EL
MATON...COLLEGEPORT... MATAGORDA...WADSWORTH...SARGENT...CEDAR
LANE...CHINQUAPIN...TRES PALACIOS OAKS...AND TIDEWATER OAKS.
BLESSING IS ALSO INCLUDED IN THE MANDATORY EVACUATION EVEN THOUGH
IT IS NORTH OF HIGHWAY 35.

THESE EVACUATIONS MUST BE COMPLETED BY 6 PM THURSDAY.

MATAGORDA COUNTY OFFICIALS ARE RECOMMENDING A VOLUNTARY EVACUATION
OF RESIDENTS NORTH OF HIGHWAY 35 AND IN BAY CITY AND VAN VLECK FOR
THOSE LIVING IN LOW LYING AREAS AND MANUFACTURED HOMES THAT ARE NOT
PROPERLY TIED DOWN. IT IS RECOMMENDED YOU EVACUATE WITH YOUR PETS.
BE SURE TO TAKE A PET CARRIER...LEASH...VACCINATION RECORDS...AND
FOOD FOR YOUR PET. IF YOU EVACUATE TO A SHELTER...YOUR PETS WILL
BE BOARDED AT A SEPARATE FACILITY.

BE SURE TO START YOUR EVACUATION WITH A FULL TANK OF GAS.

IF YOU HAVE NO MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION OR CANNOT FIND ANYONE TO
HELP YOU EVACUATE AND NEED ASSISTANCE...YOU CAN CONTACT
979-245-3056 OR 979-244-5318. YOU SHOULD COME TO THE BAY CITY
SERVICE CENTER THURSDAY BEGINNING AT 9 AM OR KC HALL IN PALACIOS
AT 9 AM ON THURSDAY.

RESIDENTS OF MATAGORDA COUNTY WHO NEED SHELTER CAN EVACUATE TO THE
SHELTER HUB IN AUSTIN. SIGNS IN AUSTIN WILL DIRECT EVACUEES TO
OPEN SHELTERS.

ALL SCHOOLS IN MATAGORDA COUNTY WILL BE CLOSED ON THURSDAY AND
FRIDAY. PALACIOS SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL ALSO BE CLOSED ON MONDAY
SEPTEMBER 15TH.


WHARTON COUNTY:
WHARTON COUNTY OFFICIALS ARE ENCOURAGING WHARTON COUNTY CITIZENS
TO EVACUATE IF THEY LIVE IN A MOBILE HOME...RV OR A FLOOD PRONE
AREA EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.

FORT BEND COUNTY:
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION HAS BEEN SUSPENDED ON FRIDAY.

...STORM SURGE AND STORM TIDE...

THE FOLLOWING TIDE LEVELS ARE BASED ON THE CURRENT FORECAST TRACK
AND FORECAST INTENSITY FOR HURRICANE IKE. THE LEVELS ARE SUBJECT
TO CHANGE BASED ON ANY FUTURE CHANGES IN THE FORECAST. IF THE
TRACK SHIFTS EASTWARD...THEN THESE LEVELS MAY BE INCREASED
DRAMATICALLY FOR THE GALVESTON BAY REGION.

TIDE LEVELS WILL EXCEED 5 FEET ABOVE MEAN LOWER LOW WATER ALONG
THE UPPER TEXAS COAST BEGINNING FRIDAY MORNING. MAXIMUM TIDE
LEVELS WILL OCCUR FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING.

MAXIMUM WATER LEVELS FORECAST:
SHORELINE OF MATAGORDA BAY - 15 TO 22 FEET
COASTAL AREAS FROM MATAGORDA TO SAN LUIS PASS - 10 TO 14 FEET
COASTAL AREAS OF GALVESTON AND CHAMBERS COUNTIES AND THE
SHORES OF GALVESTON BAY - 8 TO 12 FEET

...WINDS...

NORTHEAST WINDS WILL INCREASE 20 TO 30 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS
AFTER 3 AM FRIDAY ALONG THE COAST. WINDS WILL STEADILY INCREASE
THROUGHOUT THE MORNING AND BY 2 PM ON FRIDAY WINDS OF 40 TO 60
MPH WITH MUCH HIGHER GUSTS WILL BE POSSIBLE ALONG THE COAST.
INLAND...WINDS ALONG THE INTERSTATE 10 CORRIDOR SHOULD BE NEARING
25 TO 40 MPH SUSTAINED MAKING ELEVATED ROADWAYS POTENTIALLY
HAZARDOUS. SUSTAINED HURRICANE FORCE WINDS IN EXCESS OF 75 MPH
WILL BE POSSIBLE BY 8 PM FRIDAY NEAR THE EYEWALL WHICH IS FORECAST
TO COME ONSHORE INTO MATAGORDA COUNTY.

IN CLOSE TO THE EYE...EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WINDS WILL CAUSE
EXTENSIVE DAMAGE AND ALL MOBILE HOMES WILL BE DESTROYED.

STRUCTURAL DAMAGE WILL INCLUDE HOUSES OF POOR TO AVERAGE
CONSTRUCTION BEING DESTROYED OR SEVERELY DAMAGED. MODERATE TO
MAJOR DAMAGE OF WELL CONSTRUCTED HOUSES WILL INCLUDE FAILURE OF
UP TO ONE HALF OF ALL GABLED ROOFS. IN ADDITION....UP TO ONE
QUARTER OF EXTERIOR WALLS WILL FAIL.

ALUMINUM AND LIGHT WEIGHT STEEL ROOFS WILL BE TORN OFF BUILDINGS
AT INDUSTRIAL PARKS. PARTIAL ROOF AND EXTERIOR WALL FAILURES ARE
LIKELY AT LOW RISE APARTMENT BUILDINGS...ESPECIALLY THOSE OF POOR
TO AVERAGE CONSTRUCTION. MOST WINDOWS IN HIGH RISE OFFICE BUILDINGS
WILL BE BLOWN OUT...WITH OTHER MINOR TO MODERATE DAMAGE POSSIBLE
DUE TO SWAYING.

AIRBORNE DEBRIS OF LIGHT TO MODERATE WEIGHT WILL CAUSE ADDITIONAL
MAJOR DAMAGE...AS WELL AS INJURIES AND A FEW FATALITIES.

NEAR TOTAL POWER LOSS IS EXPECTED. UP TO ONE HALF OF ALL POWER
POLES WILL BE KNOCKED DOWN...AND HUNDREDS OF TRANSFORMERS WILL
POP. THE AVAILABILITY OF POTABLE WATER WILL BE DIMINISHED AS
FILTRATION SYSTEMS BEGIN TO FAIL.

NATURAL DAMAGE WILL INCLUDE THOUSANDS OF TREES BEING SEVERELY
DAMAGED. UP TO THREE QUARTERS OF ALL HEALTHY SMALL TO MEDIUM
SIZED TREES WILL SNAP OR BE UPROOTED...MOST COMMON ON SATURATED
GROUND. UP TO ONE HALF OF HEALTHY LARGE TREES WILL SNAP OR BE
UPROOTED. MOST NEWLY PLANTED GROUND CROPS WILL BE WIPED OUT.
LIVESTOCK LEFT OUTSIDE WILL BE INJURED...SOME CRITICALLY. A FEW
LIVESTOCK DEATHS ARE LIKELY.

...INLAND FLOODING...

WIDESPREAD RAINFALL OF 2 TO 4 INCHES WITH ISOLATED TOTALS OF 6 TO
10 INCHES WILL BE POSSIBLE FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. SIGNIFICANT
FLOODING WILL BE POSSIBLE IN AREAS OF HEAVIEST RAINFALL.

...TORNADOES...

AS THE STORM NEARS THE COAST FRIDAY EVENING THE THREAT OF
TORNADOES WILL INCREASE RAPIDLY. REMEMBER THE INNERMOST ROOM WITH
THE GREATEST NUMBER OF WALLS BETWEEN YOU AND THE WINDS WILL
PROVIDE YOU WITH SOME SHELTER. DO NOT GO NEAR WINDOWS.

...NEXT UPDATE...

THIS STATEMENT WILL BE UPDATED AROUND 11 PM.

$$






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